Parachute for aeroplanes



March 12, 1929.

w. J. BALL 9 AL PARACHUTE FOR AEROPLANES Filed octi 192s 2 sheets-snob; 1

w. J; HALL ET AL PARACHUTE FOR AEROPLANES 7 Filed Oct. 2, 1926 2 Shoots-Sheet Inreviorr.

Patented :Mu 12, "1929.

UNITED STATES "PATENT" oFFi-cE."

wItLIAu 3'. ALL AND. mus rrnnn wmtmn, or SAN mnoo, cum-carnal rA'aAcHU'rn non annor anns.

Application filed October 8, 1926. Serial No. 139,163.

Our invention relates to improvements in parachutes for aeroplanes where the parachute is attached to an aeroplane to prevent it from'crashing-and being dashed to pieces when striking the ground, after falling some distance, by the parachute, when released, allowing the aeroplane to descend gently until it reaches the earth. 7

The objects of our invention are :First, to support the weight of the aeroplane when falling by using two parachutes, one at each end of the wing of the aeroplane to hold it -on a level parallel to the earth :Second, to prevent tail-spins, nose-dives and side-slips when desired :--Third, to help the aeroplane to coast gently to earth when the engine goes dead for any reason :-Fourth, to provide.

means for releasing and ejecting forcibly and simultaneously the parachute on each end of the aeroplane when it is desired to hold aeroplane level and to prevent the spilling of humanbeings and valuable freight from the aero- I plane :-Fifth, to provide means for quickly storing away the parachutes in suitablereceptacles or chambersfrom which the parachutes may be discharged :Sixth, to provide means by which the pilot may,'at will, discharge or eject the parachutes forcibly and simu1tane ously up into the air free from the chambers containing them, so they may unfold to support the aeroplane and permit it to descend gently to the earth and Seventh, in general to make commercial aviation, safe, successful and profitable.

'We obtain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig; 1 is a perspective view of the aeroplane with the parachutes in their receptacles .or chambers readyto be discharged by the pilot pulling down the lever shown.

Fig; 2 is a perspective view of the aeroplane with two parachutes functioning after having been discharged into the air by the coil-spring in chamber. 7

Fig. 3-represents a detailed view in partial section showing the chamber, coil-spring in chamber, and releasing device.

Fig. 4 gives a detailed plan view of the platform on which the parachute rests and whichplatform is shot up against the rim of the chamber by the coil-spring under platform when the dogs are released from the studs .on the edge of platform.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of dog which holds platform down against force of coil-spring.

Similar. numeralsrefer to similar parts throughout-the several views.

1 is the top of the wing of the aeroplane to which the chambers 22 are securely fastened at any desired angle, which chambers are round by preference but might be of other shape. In each of these chambers 2-2 is a platform 3 to which are attached three studs 4-, which slide up-and down in the three slots 5, cut in the side of the chambers the desired til) length. The rim 6 around the top of the chamber 2 on the outside serves as a stop and prevents the platform 3 from leaving the chamber 2, as the studs 1 strike against the'. llIIl 6 at the top of the slots 5 and are held from going any further.

platform 3, which spring is held down by this platform 3 when the studs 4 on the platform 7 is a strong coil-spring underneath the r 3 are engaged. by the peculiar-shaped dog or' f catch 8, which thus holds the platform 3 down;

against the force of the coil-spring 7 pushing against the platform 3. 9 is the spring which holds the dog 8 in place over the stud 4, while 10 is the band fitting around the chamber 2 and to which band the dog 8 is attached. This band 10 is semi-circular in shape fitting loosely around the chamber 2 and has attached, 7

' to its other end, another dog 8 of the same shape and 1n the same way as that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. To this band 10 isattached,

half-way between its two ends, a bar 11 projecti'ng outwardly from band 10 and at the outer end of barll is the flexible bar-spring 12 which projects downward and is attached rto the bottom of the chamber on its outside which is designed to force, through bar 11, the j semicircular band 10 againstfthesideof the round chamber 2 and to reinforce the action of'the spring 9 to hold the dogs. 8 in place over the studs 4. e

To the bar 11-, near its junction with the bar-spring 12, is attached the rope 13 which passes over pulleys 14 until it reaches the lever 15, which is pivoted on the support or standard 16 fastened'securely to the top 1 and projecting downward from the top 1, in such -a manner over the pilot in the fuselage, as to 1 permit the pilotto reach up easily and grasp the handle of the lever 15 which controls the operation of the release mechanism.

Reference has been made to the peculiar shape of the dog8 and it is shown in Figs. 3 and 5 as being made with an inclined plane 17 on its top which is so designed as to permit the studs 4 (when the platform 3 is being forced down) to slide down on the inclined plane 17 forcing the dog 8 back until the end of the dog is reached whenthe stud 4 passes by the end of the dog 8, whereupon the pressure of the flexible bar-spring 12 and the pull of the spring 9 draws the dog 8 over the stud 4 and holds it securely and firmly= in place.

18 is the rope, of equal length on each of the parachutes, attached to the end of the wing and which rope 18 is firmly connected with the eye-bolt 19 secured to the top 1, and in the other end of the Tops 18 is the eye 20 to which are attached the cords 21-of equal length for the parachutes on each end, and these cords are attached in the customary manner to the parachutes 22 at each end of the wing 1. lVhile we prefer to use ropes 13 topull back the semicircular bands 10 fitting loosely around each chamber 2, in order to pull back the dogs 8 which hold down the platforms 3, yet it is apparent that other means might be used in place of the ropes so as to perform the same service, such as rods or by electrical means, and so such means are to be considered as covered by this patent.

It is evident that when the pilot of the aeroplane reaches up and grasps the lever 15 and pulls down on the handle of it, as it is pivoted to standard 16, that the lever 15 pullsdownward the ropes 13 which pulls back the bars 11 and semicircular bands 10 away from the side of the chamber 2. Band 10 is connected at the back of the dog 8 in sucha manner that when the band 10 is pulled backward and downward by the rope 13, the inner end 7 of the dog 8 is lifted and the dog 8 slides backward from its engagement over stud 4 attached to the platform 3. Immediately the end of the dog 8 passes from contact with stud 4, the force of the coil-spring 7 comes into action and the platforms 3 are impelled or catapulted upward with great force. These platforms 3, on which the parachutes 22 lie loosely,

compactly packed, being thus catapulted upward, they are suddenly stopped in their movement upward as the studs 4 slide in the slots 5 and strike with i tached to the thrown clear great force against the .rim 6 which runs all around the chamber 2 to form a top to the slots 5. This sudden impact and stopcauses the parachutes 22, which are lying loosely on the platforms 3-3 to be ejected from. the chambers 22 like projectiles thrown from a gun. These arachutes 2222,' being atrope 18-18of equal length are .of the aeroplane by the chambers 22 being inclined at an angle to the plane of the top 1, and the parachutes 22-22 are opened by and pull against the ascending columns of air, if the aeroplane is falling, spinning or sliding. p

The parachutes 2222 being attached to the ropes 18-18 of equal length, flexibility is chutes 22 and theirhcords 21 and the ro thus given to them while at the same time they are simultaneously catapulted into the air and opened at the same time, stability is quickly given to the aeroplane.

The diameter of each parachute 22 when opened and the length of the cords 21 should be such as to prevent them from fouling one another when opened and in use.

It is possible to use one or more additional parachutes on the front and rear of the wing, in addition to those shown, by using ropes like 18 of varying lengths, so as to have the parachutes float at different altitudes in order not to foul those at each end of the wing, These additional parachutes may be connected with the lever 15 in such a manner as to discharge at the same time as those 011 each end wing. Having longer ro'pes 18 and the plane falling, theywill open at an altitude higher than those on each end of the wing and thus be out of their way. They maybe located on the front of the wing over the engine where the heaviest weight is and also in the rear. They may be timed to discharge sooner or later than those on the ends-of the wing, or they may be shot out at the. same time, if the pilot so desires, according which they are attachedxto the lever, or they may have an independent lever like 15, as desired, to use only in emergencies.

\Vhen the aeroplane has safely landed and it is desired to pack each parachute 22 back in its chamber 2, the platform 3, with the three studs 4, sliding in the three slots 5, is pressed down until two of the studs 4 strike the inclned plane 17 on top of thetwo dogs 8,-

pressure forces these dogs two studs 4 on each plat-- as the platform 3 is again released by the pilot pulling down on lever 15. The parape 18 are packed away in the chambers 22, the parachutes being'made of thin waterproof material which may be folded over and over. It may be advisable to have an inner cylinder of pasteboard held to the moving platform 3 until thrown out so as to prevent the folds of the folded parachute, the cords and the ropes from touching. against the falls of the chamber 22 and causing unnecessary wear and friction. v 7

While a biplane is shown, it is evident that 'a monoplane, or an aircraft of an .kind of construction where parachutes may e deemed necessary, may be used with this invention.

Asit might be desired to pack the parachute back again into their chambers 2 while of. the

the force of the coil-spring 7 until such time mally again, or for any other reason, the means for holding the platforms down are so simply made that the platforms can be easil forced down in their chambers while in flight so that the dogs 8 will hold the studs 4-4 on platforms 3-3 firmly and securely in place, after which the parachutes can be hauled in and packed away in 'the containing chambers ready for use again. While such action might be dangerous,"it is possible.

We are aware that prior' gto our invention a parachute has been used attached to an aeroplane to prevent itcrashingto the ground. We therefore do not claim such a combination broadly but we believe that-we are the first to use two parachutes,-one at each end of wing, to give stability to the aeroplane at all times and to simultaneously and forcibly eject from their chambers bjoth parachutes, or all that may be used, by one act of pilot simultaneously releasing all paraclmtes that may be used.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination of two or more parachutes, an aeroplane, a movable platform on the edge of which are studs moving up and down in slots in sides of chambers, rims around chambers to act as stops for studs, strong coil-springs under the movable platforms to forcibly throw up platforms when dogs are released and the dogs engaging over the studs'to hold platform 'down against the force of the coil-springs.

2. The combination of two or'more parachutes, an aeroplane, chambers attached to top of aeroplane, movable platforms on which the parachutes rest and with studs moving in slots in sides of chambers, rims around chambers acting as stops for platforms, strong coil-springs underneath platforms, dogs held in. place over studs by springs, band attached to two dogs and ropes attached to bars fastened to bands to pull back the dogs from over the studs,pulleys carrying such ropes and a lever and support within easy reach of pilot so he can reach up and grasp lever and release all parachutes at once.

'3. The combination of two or more parachutes, an aeroplane to which theparachutes are attached, chambers arranged on top of the aeroplane, a movable platform on which the parachutes rest and provided with studs moving up and down in slots cut in sides of chambers a rim around each chamber to act as stop for studs on platform, a strong coilspring underneath and attached to platform, dogs held in'place over studs by springs of peculiar shape with an inclined. plane on top of each dog so that when platform is presse down the studs thereon will move down inclined plane forcing dogs studs pass'by' end of dogs, springs to bring back dogs into place, after studs have passed by end of dogs, which dogs hold platform down,'ropes attached to bands to which dogs are attached, anda lever pivoted to a support near pilots seat wlthin easy reach to which lever are attached ropes leading to two or more. parachutes so that two or more parachutes may be released simultaneously, by one pull downward by pilot on lever.

' WM. J. HALL.

CYRUS FIELD WILLARD.

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